Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Vale of Health, Greater London
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Vale of Health, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Blocked or leaking gutters
What this survey cannot tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Vale of Health
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. If you are worried about blistered or split felt on a flat roof and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, the roof space and natural slate alike.
In London, plenty of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. For a purchase in Vale of Health, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a close look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Where
- Vale of Health (NW3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
Places near Vale of Health
Also in Vale of Health
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Vale of Health
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
If you let a flat or house near Hampstead Heath station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What happens after the report arrives
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In Vale of Health, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents as you book.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Vale of Health
The wider area around Vale of Health has a long history of building, with Heath House about 0.1 miles west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Christ Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. As a London address, Vale of Health can be tricky for parking: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking.
Vale of Health is about 1 mile north of Greenhill, in Greater London. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Vale of Health and the surrounding area. Vale of Health is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work. You can also see our page for London.
Here we cover the NW3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Well Road, Cannon Lane and Holford Road or a nearby road, we can help. With the A502 close by, Vale of Health is easy for us to reach for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in North End (1 mile north-west), Greenhill (1 mile south), Hampstead (1 mile south), West Hampstead (1 mile south-west) and Childs Hill (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (6 miles south-east), City of Westminster (3 miles south), Marylebone (3 miles south), Kensington (4 miles south), St Pancras (4 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-east).
Near you in Vale of Health
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Vedasts School For Boys, South Hampstead High School and Hampstead Heath and the streets around them. The closest station to Vale of Health is Hampstead Heath station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include New End Hospital (under half a mile south) and Montfichet's Tower (4.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Parliament Hill and Turner's Wood.
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
FAQs for Vale of Health
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Vale of Health?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Vale of Health?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well, and a driveway is even better.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Do you cover Vale of Health?
Yes. Vale of Health is part of the area we cover.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Useful tips for Vale of Health property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.